Only 73 Days to Christmas!

Richard Durrant, Amy and Nick

Oh Goodness, it’s only 72 days, 13 hours to Christmas! So no time to lose in planning some jollies to lift your spirits as Richard Durrant’s extra special Candlelit Christmas Guitar Concert Tour hits the road in December…

For many music lovers across the UK, Christmas doesn’t properly begin without Richard Durrant’s Candlelit Christmas Guitar Concerts. Richard’s wintry, musical choices are always a fascination: original guitar works, tunes from the early music repertoire, British folk and works by Bach – all played in his uniquely expressive way with the flawless technique of a major virtuoso and the delivery of a natural story teller.

‘…one of the highlights of the year. Durrant’s evocative playing and stunning stage set fill the centre with a magical aura perfectly aligned to the festive season’.
– Ropetackle Arts Centre

Richard is once again joined by the master folk fiddler Nick Pynn and uniquely talented singer Amy Kakoura (above) – two great musicians who help take this show into the heart of Christmas. These three musician’s performances are always flawless and full of midwinter magic. Together they will serve a festive feast of tunes from the early music repertoire, British folk, traditional carols and original guitar works.

‘Attempting to wrestle control of Christmas from the more commercial aspects.’
– Daily Express

Over many years Richard’s Candlelit Christmas Guitar Concerts have become a seasonal tradition eagerly awaited by music lovers across the UK. The tour starts on 2 December on Richard’s home territory of Shoreham-by-Sea before heading up to Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire, West to Baulking in Oxfordshire and then to various venues in the South-East.

Map

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STRINGHENGE 2018

And just a reminder that there are just two more concerts to go in the current Stringhenge Tour:

Tuesday 16 October: Ropetackle, Shoreham-by-Sea with The Burning Deck

Saturday 20th October: Theatr Clwyd, Mold

featuring the Premiere of Richard’s new solo work Book of Spells.

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Tales from the Tour

View from the Road

As we pass the autumn equinox Richard Durrant is currently out and about on his autumn Stringhenge Solo Tour.  This is his first outing since the two long drives to the South of France running his Guitar Holidays not to mention 1,000 miles on a bicycle playing those gigs through the heat of summer 2018.

The last few days crossing the UK have been very affecting, witnessing the start of autumn whilst travelling from Sussex to Scotland in the bright sunshine. A stop off in Edwinstowe included walking into the Forest of Sherwood to play at the opening of the new visitor centre.

Richard tells us more:

‘It was a beautiful evening and I stood next to a hog roast (with a very convincing Robin Hood and Little John looking on), playing my bog oak guitar to the gathered folk of the Sherwood Forest Trust.  Later that same evening Friar Tuck showed up at my concert in the church where Robin and Marian where supposedly wed. The good Friar bought some vinyl – he hasn’t gone digital just yet.’

Gary and Richard

Gary and Richard

Richard then travelled on to Northumbria to visit the new workshop and home of Gary Southwell. Gary made the beautiful concert guitar that has been so central to Richard’s musical adventures for the last two years.

The cover pic to this newsletter is the view of Gary’s workshop from the nearest proper road!

Performing in Peebles

Performing in Peebles

After a wonderful Friday night at the Eastgate Theatre in Peebles, Scotland, Richard headed south-west to Cumbria to perform at the Upfront Gallery and Puppet Theatre in Unthank. It is a unique place and it’s always worth arriving early to have a look round…

and you never know when you might see a puppet!

Puppet

Album News

Stringhenge

Stringhenge album

As of two weeks ago, the Stringhenge album is now officially ‘out there’.   It’s still getting plays on BBC 6 Music and was also chosen as one of the Guardian’s ‘Top folk album Picks of the Month’. The album has now just arrived on all digital platforms (i-tunes etc).

CHECK OUT RICHARD’S NEW BANDCAMP SITE

Richard Durrant and the Burning Deck

The unexpected popularity of standout track Kenneth the Hedge (which has been played all over the network) has prompted Richard to get together with some of the musicians from the album to perform at the Ropetackle gig on Tuesday 16th October.  With Stephen Hiscock on drums, Howard Beach keys, Gareth Huw-Davies on bass and Rabs on guitar and additional vocals this is Richard Durrant and The Burning Deck.

Richard’s message to everyone now is to…

‘Enjoy the change in season –  get yourself some conkers – and I hope to see you at a gig sometime soon!’

Upcoming events

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